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Tenant Information

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The City of Oshawa is committed to ensuring social equity, cultural vitality and accountability to all residents and visitors.

Understanding the significant concerns and issues that may arise in relation to being a tenant, the City of Oshawa strives to fulfill this commitment by providing current information and contacts that may be useful for tenants throughout the City.

The City produces a Tenant Information Guide, which provides some helpful tips and contacts. This guide is intended to provide tenants with some helpful information and agency contacts who can assist in ensuring that renters are being treated fairly under the law and that each rental unit is safe, properly equipped and maintained in compliance with established standards.

The City of Oshawa has by-laws which apply to rental properties. These by-laws include provisions which can assist in ensuring that the rental units meet standards of safety and occupancy. The by-laws and services that you should be aware of include:

Building Services:Building Services reviews permit plans and conducts inspections to ensure that construction is carried out in accordance with the Ontario Building Code

Fire Safety: Working Smoke Alarms

Working smoke alarms can save lives. Landlords and homeowners are required by law to have working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and replaced if they are more than 10 years old. In addition to working smoke alarms, individuals should know what to do when the alarms sound, plan escape routes and practice their escape plans.

The fine for non-working smoke alarms is up to $50,000 for an individual and/or one-year imprisonment.

Before contacting the Board or the City, there are some important steps you need to follow:

Understand your rights and responsibilities and those of your landlord

Be able to clearly communicate what the problem is

If the issue is the responsibility of the landlord, inform the landlord about the problem in writing and keep a copy of this request and any work order for your records

If after informing the landlord about the problem, the landlord does not take steps to respond or to address your concerns within a reasonable time period, contact one or both of the agencies noted above

Note: Do not submit complaints to the Board or the City until you have followed these steps. If the issue is an emergency, contact the appropriate emergency responders.